D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad Chapter 1: A Totally Normal Birthday

Kat sprang awake, her eyes darting to her desk in search of her clock. *5:30, I still have time.* She sat up and padded through her sparsely furnished bedroom to the closet, selecting a clean school uniform. She then tiptoed down the hallway, careful not to awaken the other children, and slipped into the shower.

*Alright, a quick shower before rousing the others, then I'll try to catch the old man making breakfast for everyone today. That old codger never lets us thank him properly.*

Just five minutes later, a still-damp Kat eyed her reflection in the mirror. She was only just visible, her slightly tall frame barely fitting within the frame. Given the bathroom had been designed for much younger children, she considered herself lucky to see herself at all. Her striking red hair cascaded just past her shoulders as she located a hair tie to secure it. After quickly tidying the rest of her appearance, she stepped outside, returning her pajamas to her room before steeling herself.

*Time to wake the kids, I suppose. At least it's no longer my responsibility to ensure they get up.* She knocked on their doors, then hurried down the hall, calling out:

"Breakfast! Get up now while it's hot, or you'll miss out! Everyone needs to be showered and ready for school!" Reaching the end of the corridor, Kat slowed her pace before descending the stairs, still taking them relatively quickly. She then repeated her morning routine through the ground floor hallway.

*Okay, that should be all the kids. Let's see if I can find the old man.* Turning back towards the stairs, Kat noticed Sylvie was already awake and clearly waiting for her. The little blonde-haired girl stood by the dining hall door, clad in her nightgown. Sylvie was nine years old, about average for the orphanage children if you didn't count Kat and the old man. For some reason, though, she had developed a particular fondness for Kat, making sure to wake up in time to eat breakfast together. *At least she's easy to get up in the morning, unlike some of the others.* Kat walked over, took Sylvie's hand, and they entered the Dining room together.

The pair entered a vast room furnished with three large tables. Two were positioned in the center of the room, while a third against the wall held the children's breakfast. A veritable feast was laid out, yet the old man was nowhere to be seen. *That scoundrel! I even got up early because it's my birthday, and I still couldn't catch him. Would it hurt him to accept a little gratitude from us?*

"Come on, Sylvie, let's get our food. We don't want the others snatching the good stuff," Kat said.

The little girl merely nodded slightly. Kat sighed, *I really wish Sylvie spoke a bit more. I don't think she has any problems with the others, but I worry about her sometimes.* After quickly filling two plates with food for herself, she found a seat at the edge of a table with Sylvie. Soon after, the sound of running feet echoed down the hallway. The rest of them were arriving.

A chaotic group of around twenty children burst through the door and practically stampeded towards the food, followed by three older-looking children. *Those three… is it really that difficult to keep the little ones in line? You're supposed to calm the children before serving food to everyone. I managed it alone for years, and they can't even make half an effort with three of them. At least Gramps would sort them out if it ever became a real problem, like someone not getting enough food. But come on, guys, you're teenagers now, put in some effort.* Contrary to Kat's internal monologue, she simply sat quietly and ate her meal with Sylvie. They represented a peculiar island of calm amidst the boisterous crowd, seemingly paying the commotion no mind.

After finishing her food and washing both her own plate and Sylvie's, Kat started walking back upstairs to retrieve her bag and head to school. Suddenly, she felt a slight tug on her skirt. Turning, she saw Sylvie looking up at her with wide eyes.

"Um, um, I couldn't get you anything, but, um, happy birthday, Kat. Thanks for always having breakfast with me," Sylvie said.

Bending down, Kat gave the girl a quick hug before replying, "Anytime. Come and find me whenever you want." Straightening up, she headed back upstairs.

Hurrying upstairs, Kat grabbed her pens and schoolbooks and began walking towards the front door. *Should I look for Gramps before I leave? Nah, he's probably hiding away somewhere. I doubt I'll find him unless he wants to be found, and I have no intention of being late for school.* With that, Kat set off, heading towards the center of her small town.

Roughly an hour later, Kat found herself gazing up at the imposing structure of All Saints Regional School. The name itself seemed peculiar, considering the school's rather unique standing. Though privately owned, it operated as a public institution and was the sole educational establishment within the town. Indeed, many whispered that the school predated the town itself. Nevertheless, its upkeep was impeccable, with regular additions of new buildings and the gradual phasing out of older ones as required. Despite its central role in the community, the school commanded a significant portion of the surrounding land, consistently expanding its grounds whenever the need arose.

As Kat made her way towards the section of the campus designated for senior classes, located on the far side, she paused to rummage through her locker. It was then that she detected the sound of three distinct laughter-filled voices. *'Ah, it seems it's that time of the week once more,'* she mused internally. *'Looks like the trio of Dumb, Dumber, and Bore are making their approach.'* Swiftly, she slipped inside her locker, pulling the door shut, and waited with a sense of tedium as the voices drew nearer and eventually stopped directly in front of her hiding place.

"Oh, look, ladies, we simply cannot permit our dear friend Katarina's locker to remain unsecured. Who knows what nefarious deeds could transpire? And observe, the lock has been negligently left accessible – how convenient for us," declared one of the voices.

*'Yes, yes, proceed with your charade,'* Kat thought impatiently. *'I have matters to attend to.'* A sharp click echoed as the lock was secured, and the trio proceeded down the corridor. *'And now, all that remains is to dispatch a swift message to Lily…'* With practiced ease, Kat retrieved her old Nokia phone, sent a text, and then concluded, *'Now, we simply wait. If only there were a bit more space in here; I could actually sit down. Oh well.'*

Following a brief interval, a small figure materialized outside the locker and began to manipulate the lock. In mere moments, the door swung open, revealing a petite and wiry girl. Her unruly brown hair was cut short, yet it still managed to obscure her eyes, were it not for the spectacles she wore.

"Thank you, Lily, you're an absolute lifesaver," Kat expressed, stepping out from her confined space.

"Why do you continually permit them to do this to you, Kat? I know you possess the strength to stand up to those three," Lily implored.

"It's really not that significant, you know. Besides, we have an understanding. They indulge in minor pranks, and I simply let it pass. We're both aware of the underlying reality, Lily," Kat responded calmly.

"But it simply isn't right! This is the second time this month they've resorted to the locker trick."

"And you're invariably there to extract me, so it's perfectly fine—"

"What about that time they doused you with water? You were completely drenched."

"It was the height of summer; it took mere minutes to dry. And it was just before PE, so I didn't even need to change my clothes," Kat recalled.

Lily appeared momentarily stymied by this explanation.

"I just… you aided me when they targeted me, yet why won't you take action to defend yourself, or at the very least, permit me to assist you?" Lily inquired softly.

"It's alright, Lily. No one truly gets hurt when they direct their attention toward me. I remain unfazed, and they gain a measure of self-satisfaction," Kat offered a reassuring smile to the shorter girl, though Lily's expression remained unconvinced. *'It genuinely is alright,'* Kat thought. *'They understand their words hold no sway over me, and they know that were matters to escalate significantly, I would personally handle the entire lot. I must prevent them from targeting Lily again. I only wish she could grasp that this isn't solely for her benefit; I truly do not mind.'* The two ceased their conversation as they neared the classroom, exchanging a brief nod before entering and taking their seats.